Electrical connector for securing wires at right angles



Dec. 13, 1966 w. F. BROSKE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR SECURING WIRES AT RIGHT ANGLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1965 INVENTOR.

W in o- R BM Ml m Y B Dec. 13, 1966 w. F. BROSKE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR SECURING WIRES AT RIGHT ANGLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1965 INVENTOR. I WILLIAM F. Baeszs BYM, WW

Dec. 13, 1966 I w. F. BROSKE 3,290,746

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR SECURING WIRES AT RIGHT ANGLES Filed May 14, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F BROSKE BY Mmm United States Patent 3,290,746 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR SECURING WIRES AT RIGHT ANGLES William F. Broske, Camp Hill, Pa., assignor to A1VIP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed May 14, 1965, Ser. No. 455,905 2 Claims. (Cl. 24126) The forming of electrical connections between a pair of cables through cold-forging has been accomplished by using a C-shaped, outer member and a wedge-shaped, inner member to secure a tap wire to a through wire (see U.S. application Serial No. 172,183, filed February 9, 1962, now Patent No. 3,235,944). In the very large sized cables used by the electrical utilities, it is desirable to design a tap which secures the tap wire at right angles to the through wire. This eliminates the necessity of bending the tap wire from a position parallel to the through wire along the path of ultimate use.

It is an object of this invention to provide a connector utilizing the principle of the wedge, wherein the tap wire extends laterally to the through wire.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a connector where two wedges are employed, and insertion of the first wedge drives the second wedge.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there are shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that these embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but are given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a connector, embodying the principles of this invention, prior to assembly on the wires;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the connector after it has been assembled;

FIGURE 2A is a fragmentary view of another embodiment;

FIGURE 3 is a cut-away, plan view similar to FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cut-away, plan view similar to FIG- URE 2, also showing the application tool in phantom;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the connector; and

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the back of the connector in assembled condition.

As shown in the drawings (FIGURES l and 3), it is desired to secure a pair of wires W and W together in electrical conductive relationship, with the tap wire W disposed at a right angle to the through wire W.

The connector assembly includes a base member A and a pair of wedge members B and C. The base member includes a planar surface 10, having a pair of arcuate flanges 12 and 14 emanating from opposite edges and curving toward each other. The radius of curvature approximates the radius of the largest sized wire adapted to be secured by the connector.

A third arcuate flange 16 extends from a third edge of the planar member 10. The flange 16 has a radial dimension adapted to receive the cable W. The flange 16 is spaced from the inner edges 18 and 20 of the flanges 12 and 14 to permit insertion of the wedge C.

The wedge member C has a concave upper edge 22 and a convex lower edge 24. The edges 22 and 24 converge toward the leading edge 26.

3,290,746 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 The other wedge B (FIGURE 1) is identical with Wedge C, and includes a concave edge 28, a convex edge 30, as well as a trailing edge 32 which is concave. Both wedges B and C may have concave trailing edges so that they may be used interchangeably, although it is only important on wedge B.

A device for driving the Wedge C is shown in phantom on FIGURE 4. This tool is specifically described and claimed in U.S. patent application, Serial No. 341,282, filed January 30, 1964, in the name of Frederick William Wahl. Generally, it contains an explosive cartridge contained in handle 40 to drive a captive ram 42, thereby driving the wedge C.

When it is desired to make an electrical connection between a pair of wires W and W (FIGURES l and 3), the wire W is inserted into the flange 12. The wedge B is assembled into position so that the concave edge 28 retains the wire W in place, while the convex edge bears against the inner surface of flange 14 (FIGURE 3).

The connector is hooked into the through wire W so that the through wire bears against the inner surface of the flange 16 (FIGURES land 3). The wedge C is inserted into assembled position whereby the concave edge 22 bears against the through wire W and the convex edge 24 bears against the trailing edge 32 of the wedge B.

A suitable tool (e.g., shown in phantom lines in FIG- URE 4) is secured to the connector to drive the wedge C into secure engagement with the wire W. The line of travel of the wedge C concurrently drives Wedge B laterally to the axis of the wedge C, and thus causes the wedge B to securely grasp the wire between the concave surface 28 of the wedge B and the inner surface of the flange 12. The final position of the wedges B and C (FIGURES 2 and 4) causes a slight cold-forging of the wires W and W to elfect a highly eflicient electrical connection. The wedge is peened slightly (FIGURE 2) at 50 to lock it in place.

The connector lends itself to a high degree of adaptability for use with a plurality of tap wires. As shown in FIGURE 2A, it is possible to design the wedge B so that it accepts a pair of wires. In FIGURE 2A, the redesigned wedge is identified B and the tap wires are designated S and T. The opposed surfaces 60 and 62 of the wedge B are concavo-concave so that each surface corresponds to one of the tap wires. In this embodiment, the device is assembled in the same manner as the device of FIGURES 1-4 However, three wires, one through wire and two tap wires will be secured together in electricallyconductive relationship.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective against the prior art.

I claim:

1. A connector comprising a planar member, a first pair of arcuate arms projecting from opposite edges of said member, a third arcuate arm projecting from said planar member laterally to and spaced from said first pair of arcuate arms, and a pair of wedge members adapted to be secured to said connector comprised of a first wedge adapted to be received between the first pair of arcuate arms and the other wedge adapted to be received between the third arcuate arm and one end of said first wedge.

2. A connector for securing a plurality of cables comprising a base member, an arcuate flange protruding from the base member, a first Wedge member adapted to secure a cable to the arcuate flange, a Wedge-receiving means secured to the base member transversely to said arcu ate flange, a second Wedge adapted to be driven into the Wedge-receiving means transversely to said first wedge member to secure a second cable therein, said flange and said Wedge-receiving means being disposed in a relationship whereby insertion of the first Wedge member into cable-securing position simultaneously engages and drives the second Wedge member into the wedge-receiving means to secure a cable theerin.

References Cited by the Examiner 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,400,491 12/1921 Mechling. 2,040,250 5/1936 Eulberg 339270 X 2,106,724 2/1938 Cope 28778 X 10 BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONNECTOR COMPRISING A PLANAR MEMBER, A FIRST PAIR OF ARCUATE ARMS PROJECTING FROM OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID MEMBER, A THIRD ARCUATE ARM PROJECTING FROM SAID PLANAR MEMBER LATERALLY TO AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST PAIR OF ARCUATE ARMS, AND A PAIR OF WEDGE MEMBERS ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO SAID CONNECTOR COMPRISED OF A FIRST WEDGE ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED BETWEEN THE FIRST PAIR OF ARCUATE ARMS AND THE OTHER WEDGE ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED BETWEEN THE THIRD ARCUATE ARM AND ONE END OF SAID FIRST WEDGE. 